The year's best of the bunch and how the Academy is working harder to recognize diversity in Hollywood.

Just a year after the infamous #OscarsSoWhite row, the Academy has made considerable efforts to reward the hard work of diverse actors. Many are applauding the Academy for finally getting it right this year by nominating a sundry lineup of individuals.

This year’s nominations are not perfect; some fans feel their favorite actors and movies were snubbed. In other offscreen drama, the Oscar’s website mistakenly listed Amy Adams instead of Ruth Negga as a nominee for Best Actress. ABC fixed the mistake and apologized shortly after.

How can "Arrival" have eight nominations, including best picture, and no nomination for Amy Adams. #Oscars2017 at its most confounding.

It is impossible for the Oscars to please everyone but after #OscarsSoWhite the Academy invited 700 new diverse members to join and vote for Oscar nominees. It is clear that these nominations will work to end the diversity drought in Hollywood.

2017 Oscar nominations celebrate these 10 diverse talents and appreciate diverse stories, so we can’t help but get excited.

2. Barry Jenkins, Best Director/Best Adapted Screenplay

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Barry Jenkins is the 4th black man in history to be nominated for best director for his film “Moonlight”. He is also the first black man to be nominated for both Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay. “Moonlight” is a coming of age story, based on a play, that follows a young black man growing up in Miami. Barry Jenkins would be the first black man in history to win this award. Jenkins says the 2017 Oscar nominations “reflect the world he lives in.”

3. Ava Duvernay, Best Documentary Feature

Ava Duvernay’s important Netflix documentary “13th” about the history of the American criminal justice system clearly impacted people. It was educating and insightful to the systematic mistreatment of African Americans, but sensitive to the experiences it drew upon. Duvernay released a statement thanking the Academy for recognizing her work, “Now more than ever, it is important to educate ourselves, explore our shared history and elevate our awareness about matters of human dignity.”

4. Dev Patel, Best Supporting Actor

British Native Dev Patel makes history being the third Indian man to be nominated for his role in “Lion”. Patel is powerful in his performance as a young man desperate to find his biological parents after getting lost in Calcutta. Patel learned of his nomination when he was in India saying, “Lion reaffirms the message that love is not dictated by skin color, race, gender, sexuality, or social status. It is a message I am proud to be spreading during these uncertain times.”

5. Lin Manuel Miranda, Best Original Song

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The Hamilton legend Lin Manuel Miranda’s song “How Far I Will Go” in Disney movie “Moana” was a fan favorite. This nomination brings Miranda closer to the rare “EGOT”; Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony. Only 12 people in history have claimed this title, and Miranda, 37, would be the youngest individual to do this. Miranda released a statement of thanks, “Future congratulations to al the kids watching this telecast this year, you’re next.”

6. Denzel Washington, Best Actor

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Denzel Washington powerfully reenacts the story of Troy Maxson in “Fences”. With an outstanding career, Washington has earned more Oscar nominations than any black actor in history. Denzel thanked the Academy for recognizing August Wilson’s brilliant words.

8. Mahershala Ali, Best Supporting Actor

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Mahershala Ali’s impactful performance in “Moonlight” paved way the road for an Oscar nomination. Ali is the only contending Muslim actor nominated this year and one of the few nominated Muslim actors in history. Ali was also in “Hidden Figures”, another Oscar nominated film. Reacting to his nomination, “Anything in our culture that has real impact, we have to keep our eyes on, to make sure everyone has opportunity, that never stops…We have a ways to go.”

9. Octavia Spencer, Best Supporting Actress

Octavia Spencer is no stranger to awards, having won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress in “The Help”. She is the first actress to nominated for this field twice in a row. Spencer gave a brilliant performance as mathematician Dorothy Vaughan in “Hidden Figures”. In response to news of her nomination, “I’m thrilled that I’m representing three women in history who never got their due, I’m more excited for the women we represent and the roles they played.”

No matter the results of the Oscars ceremony, it is clear that the Academy is finally listening to us. By selecting the most diverse lineup of nominees in a decade, they are inspiring future generations of creatives.

While there is still much progress to be made in terms of representing people of color and women in the entertainment industry, 2017 is proving to be a breakthrough year for diversity and we look forward to more of it in the Academy’s future. It only gets better from here.